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SOUTHDOC is preparing for a busier than usual Christmas season after it received over 1,000 more calls last weekend than on an average weekend.
Figures released by SouthDoc, the out of hours medical service operating in Kerry and Cork, shows they had 3,741 calls between Friday, December 13 and Sunday, December 15.
It’s believed an earlier than usual flu season is exacerbating the demand for GP services and this is predicted to continue over the Christmas and New Year period.
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Last Friday, they received 505 calls from people looking for appointments, Saturday saw 1,518 and 1,718 on Sunday, up around 1,000 on a regular weekend.
If you are using the SouthDoc service, you are asked to have your medical card number and Eircode number to hand before making the call, and to always keep the line free so a nurse can call back. The SouthDoc website will have details of Christmas and New Year opening hours up from Friday.
